372 



FOREIGN POPLARS. 



ornamental as on the banks of the Thames, at 

 Fulham. 



The wood is of as little value in the arts as the 

 tree itself in the landscape, being scarcely applied 

 to any other purpose than that of making packing- 

 cases. 



The Balsam Poplar, or Tacamahac {Populus 

 halsamifera)y was cultivated in Britain as early as 

 1692. It is a native of North America, and is 

 remarkable for its large gummy buds, which, 

 as well as its delicately yellow young leaves, dif- 

 fuse a pleasing odour. The Ontario Poplar 

 {Populus candicans) differs from the last in bear- 

 ing larger leaves^ which are heart-shaped at the 

 base. 



The Necklace-bearing, or Black Italian Poplar, 

 {Populus moniliferd), derives the first name from 

 its seed-vessels, which are arranged along a 

 common stem like beads. Why it was first 

 called Italian" is not so clear, for it appears 

 to have been brought originally from some part 

 of North America. Selby considers it the 

 most valuable of all the Poplars hitherto intro- 

 duced, as it grows with astonishing rapidity, 

 and produces timber of large size and excellent 

 quality. 



The Athenian Poplar {Populus GrcEcd) scarcely 

 deserves its classical name, not being a native 

 of Greece, but of the township of Athens in 

 North America. It is a handsome, vigorous tree, 

 approaching nearer to the Aspen than to any 

 other of the Poplars, from which, however, it may 

 be readily distinguished by its longer and more 

 pointed leaves, and the ashen grey colour of the 

 bark on its young branches. It is a very rapid 



